Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel of New York announced Thursday that he has picked Kelly Ward as the committee's executive director for the 2014 cycle.

Ward served as the DCCC's political director during the 2012 cycle and as a DCCC regional political director during the 2010 cycle.

"I couldn’t be happier or prouder that Kelly Ward will be our new Executive Director," Israel said in a statement. "Kelly brings the right mix of smart political instincts and experienced leadership to aggressively take on this Tea Party Republican majority."

Israel also announced that Jesse Ferguson, the DCCC's communications director, will be the committee's deputy executive director and communications director for the 2014 cycle. Missy Kurek, the DCCC national finance director, was named as the deputy executive director for finance for the new cycle.

Israel was asked by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to remain at the DCCC for another cycle after he oversaw an operation that netted a seven- or eight-seat gain in this year's elections.